Demon Sword Sect's Undercover-Chapter 756 - 755 Bending Down or Not

From beginning to end, Hou Niao always maintained a smile, which made those watching him in secret unable to discern his true thoughts.

Should I humble myself?

Now that I’ve achieved my goal, is there really a need to burn my bridges and become sworn enemies?

Having successfully become a True Disciple, with twenty years ahead of me, my strength alone should solidify my status in the Shan Sect, not to mention my close relationship with the Heavenly Heart Pavilion. As an implicitly acknowledged disciple, my ascent to the Constellation True Inheritor is certainly seen as welcome by the Heavenly Heart Pavilion, right?

I’m satisfied, the Quanzhen Sect is satisfied, and the Dao lineage faces no risk of inner conflict, except for those four Master who are stubbornly attached to their principles.

Reform? Hasn’t it already taken place? The emergence of the Seeking Truth Hall is the biggest achievement of the reforms. Though perhaps not thorough, change has occurred, and maybe, reform necessarily requires a gradual approach?

The disappointment of the four Ascending Sword Masters? What does it matter if they’re disappointed? They have no wish to remain in Yujing City and will sooner or later wander off to cultivate on their travels. So, it doesn’t seem to hinder anything, does it?

Friends? As long as I join the ranks of True Disciples, will friends be far off? As that unnamed mediator said, there are many among the True Disciples who are suppressing their Realms. I can help them ascend; I’m good at that. Once a spot opens up, won’t there be opportunities for my friends?

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. The conditions proposed by the other party are extremely favorable for me, and I can’t think of any reason to refuse them.

Just like every other task I’ve undertaken, although arduous, I always manage to find that sliver of opportunity and execute flawlessly.

The only person I might possibly let down is the Daoist Chong Ling underground, but in fact, Daoist Chong Ling never set any specific goals for me, did he?

Having thought everything through clearly and holding everything within my grasp, Lan Kecheng’s reflections are nearly at an end.

When Lan Kecheng leapt down from the high pavilion and the golden announcer resumed her eloquent speech, Hou Niao faced everyone with a slight smile, puffing his chest and strutting his belly as if accepting an award, not flying but instead taking deliberate steps forward.

"What do you think will happen?" Rao Zongzhi was very curious.

"My ancestor Hai believes someone is making a deal with the senior brother, but the details of the deal are still unclear," Hai Xixi was the only one with access to the Nascent Transformation Masters, and he brought to the group a piece of news that was hard to interpret as good or bad.

"The details? What’s there to guess? Senior Brother Hou’s position as a True Disciple is secure as long as he doesn’t cause any trouble himself," Zong Qian hit the nail on the head.

"The truth is, even I would be tempted by such conditions; after all, isn’t that what we all seek? Unfortunately, only the senior brother has the power to make them offer such a price. For anyone else, it’s not even worth dreaming about. It’s done, the overall situation is settled. I’m just worried that if the senior brother is too stubborn, even after attaining the Golden Core, with so many people offended, how will he get by within the sect? Countless petty slights, countless troubles," Wang Mian voiced the truth that most of them were thinking.

Fang Yazi kept silent until Wang Mian patted him, "Instructor Fang, what do you think?"

Fang Yazi sighed and said with a troubled look, "You all know one aspect but not the other; the biggest characteristic of our senior brother’s actions is the proverbial ’tailing of the weasel’!"

"What do you mean by that?"

"There’s never been a clean resolution; there will always be something that you’ll need to wipe up after him. Sometimes a lot, sometimes a little, and when it’s bad, it’s a real mess that can’t be wiped clean..."

This was Fang Yazi’s heartfelt sentiment, but the others, having spent less time with Hou Niao, did not quite grasp the depth of his experience.

...As the peach-like announcer mentioned by Instructor Fang announced the names, Hou Niao began to climb step by step; the Heaven Measuring Sword Pavilion had a hanging staircase that was rarely used, reserved for mortals and artisans when repairs were needed. His reason for climbing step by step was not to seek attention but to firm up his own convictions.

To humble oneself also requires courage.

All eyes were on him. As the most prominent Tongtian Realm cultivator of the Shan Sect at that moment, his deeds had become well-known in Yujing City following the battle with Sword One of the Constellation in the minor worlds.

When his past merits were fully uncovered, everyone suddenly realized the presence of such an illustrious figure within the Tongtian Realm. Word spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred, known by everyone, familiar to all.

Thus everyone understood where the climax of this year’s conference lay. With his qualifications and achievements, his ambition for the position of True Disciple was inevitable. If even he refrained from asserting himself, what right did the others have?

Amidst the struggle between the Reform Faction and the conservatives, the conservatives already held absolute advantage. Now this man’s ascent to the pavilion couldn’t change the overall trend; all he could do was perhaps stir up a little commotion, making the Reform Faction’s loss a bit less embarrassing.

The tide had turned, everyone saw it that way, seeing no suspense left because just then, a deliberate message had been circulated by the Sima Mansion: the former Sima Mansion True Disciple Lin Kaoxian, unable to contain his Realm, would officially attempt to break through to the Golden Core in the Upper Realm after the conference!

What did this mean? Anyone with discernment could see it was deliberately making room for Hou Niao!

Such a great temptation, no one could stay tensed against it. Even the four True Masters Hai, Wei, Quan, and Yuan shook their heads inwardly. Compared with those brothers skilled in intrigue, they fell far short.

In such a situation, what did the words or actions of this minor cultivator of the Natural Realm signify?

Hou Niao climbed higher and higher; he could already hear the restless murmurs below, hearing about Lin Kaoxian’s request to the Sima Mansion to relinquish his position as a True Disciple, a done deal.

He knew why such a message was released now—it was to calm him, to ensure he would bow his head without worry.

Such scheming, such effort, just for a guaranteed spot. But would a True Disciple position attained in this manner really be any different from the previous nine?

Reaching a tier of the pavilion, the entire vast Heaven Measuring Sword Pavilion was devoid of others apart from himself— a tier of heaven, a tier of sword, a tier of man!

Ignoring the thousands of spectators below the pavilion tiers, the vast gulf in their Realms, as if he were the only one in the world!

Here, he was the heaven, he was the sword! He alone was supreme! He was the unbeatable warrior!

In an instant, his aura surged. The mantra of ’Front’ reached a grand mastery of self-sovereignty, and the mantra of ’Lie’ entered the threshold of pursuing the unbeaten path!

He finally confirmed his ideology. No matter the obstacles ahead, he would cut through them with a single sword strike, much like Sword One, Sword Two, Sword Three in the Soul Realm, unafraid and undaunted, even in death-turned-spirit!

Proudly he declared, "How can the Ascending Sword not be unrestrained? How can the changes of heaven and earth prelude destiny? Time is unlimited but will eventually end; even if one bows, it’s in vain!"